Sunday, February 04, 2007
Yesterday I read the reports in the World section about global warming. And it's nice to see that people are finally realizing that global warming is
1. real
2. a very bad thing
3. the result of human activities

and that's a good thing. For starters, anyway.
But what exactly can we do?
- Get more companies to go green?
- Have countries sign agreements like the Kyoto Protocol?
- Banish all fossil-fuel-consuming power plants?

Somehow I kinda doubt it's going to happen anytime soon. because it would involve us giving up many things we like too much. eg. electricity, cars, etc. And it's pretty impossible to make every country reduce their CO2 emissions or whatever. I mean, they have to develop, especially places like China & India. To counter completely the effects of global warming or prevent it from worsening would require something along the lines of a massive effort on every single country's part. Call me cynical, but I really doubt if that will happen. but it doesn't hurt to hope right? Sounds cheesy, but it'd be great if the entire world could come together & make it work. I mean, it's possible to generate electricity using renewable resources, eg. geothermal, wind, solar, whatever. Just that they aren't in practice because of lack of corporate & political will. Example:

Many companies in the automobile and energy industries put pressure on the White House and Congress to halt or delay new laws or regulations -- or even to stop enforcing existing rules -- that would drive such changes. From requiring catalytic converters to improving gas mileage, car companies have fought even the smallest measure to protect public health and the environment. If progress is to be made, the American people will have to demand it.
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp#11
[useful website for people new to the case of global warming. please look.]

It's sad. I hope these people wake up. And I'm not citing Americans in particular. It's just an example of how people resist initiatives to save the environment because it'll cost them money, or they can't be bothered, or whatever. You'd think the fact that we all live on this planet would be enough reason for us to take care of it. I mean, it's like how we take care of ourselves to prevent ourselves from falling sick. It's just logical to want to ensure health, so why can't we do that for the Earth?